Shouket Ahmed Rahman, Mayor of Yethrib, Iraq, shakes the hand of a soccer player from Albu Faras during the opening ceremonies of the Yethrib nahi'a soccer tournament. For the first time since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, the Yethrib District is holding a multi-village soccer tournament to commemorate the substantial progress that has been made in regards to security and stability in the Salah ad Din province. Photo by 1st Lt. Jonathan Springer.

In 2007, the conflict between the Muslim sects had reached a boiling point and many throughout Iraq, described the situation as having elements of civil war.

But since then, things have drastically changed.

Over the course of 2007, the “tribal awakening” began to spread throughout all of Iraq. This awakening saw many high profile Iraqi sheiks turn their backs against the brutality of foreign led fighters and stand up, along with the coalition forces and Iraqi security forces, to take back the streets of their homeland.

Because of this dedicated partnership, the sectarian violence that once gripped the Balad and Yethrib region is almost non-existent now, and attacks are down in almost all parts of the area.

With security improving, local citizens have begun taking full advantage of the much improved stability in the country, and many have restarted the political process in their neighborhoods, villages and cities.

The heated sectarian strife that once played itself out on the streets of Balad, is now playing out on a modest soccer pitch.

On June 30th, teams from al Jamiah and Albu Faras, both small villages near Joint Base Balad, squared off on the soccer field to begin a two-week-long district soccer tournament aimed at promoting unity in the area.

The soccer tournament is a first of its kind in an area of roughly 60,000 people. The tournament is expected to run nightly through July 12th, and will pit over 24 teams from the district in sporting competition against each other for the coveted championship trophy.

“This is the first time since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime that we’ve done something like this. Because of the sectarian violence in the area, we haven’t been able to hold this kind of event since 2003,” said Shouket Ahmed Rahman, mayor of Yethrib.

Shouket, who was born and raised in Yethrib, said this soccer tournament marks a dramatic turning point for the local villagers in the district. He said this tournament is momentous because it brings various groups of people together, both Shia and Sunni, to rejoice and commemorate the substantial progress that has been made in the Salah ad Din province.

“This soccer tournament is all about unity,” Shouket added. “In the past, many of these men were fighting each other with weapons … but now, they are battling each other on the soccer field.”

To locals in the area, this soccer tournament is more than just a game. They say it is significant because it celebrates their return to normalcy.

“Right now, security is the best it’s been in years … this tournament is all about celebrating that,” said Ahmed Dawud Suwod, a 38-year old villager from Albu Hishma, speaking through an interpreter.